Money isn’t the most important thing in the world, it’s true, but we also can’t pretend that it’s entirely unimportant. It simply has too much influence on our life for it to be that. While we can’t always expect our financial situation to be exactly what we want it to be, we should at least try to minimize the headaches that it induces.

In doing so, we’ll find that we feel much more in control – and as a happy side effect, our financial situation will likely be given a boost, too. Here’s how you do it.

Lifestyle Inflation

People fall into money problems because they are, quite simply, spending more than they should – or even more than they need to. One day, we’re content with our lot in life, but then we get a raise or otherwise have more money, and suddenly what we need to be content rises. Our expectations rise. Over time, this can lead to financial problems, because if we take a hit to our finances, suddenly we’re unable to afford our lifestyle. To combat this, you need to consciously avoid lifestyle inflation – keep your needs minimal, and that rise you receive will just improve your financial landscape, rather than hinder it.

Bills, Bills, Bills

One of the reasons why life is so much simpler as a child is because we have no bills to pay. When we become adults, we acquire one bill, and then another, and then another. Sometimes these are manageable and just fine to have (like having a mortgage), but others can be more problematic. For instance, if you have various debts, then you can become a little overwhelmed by all the different bills you have to pay. So why not make things simpler? Debt consolidation can take all your debts and turn them into one manageable monthly payment. Suddenly, you won’t have multiple bills you need to stay on top of – you’ll just have one.

Buying Too Much House

Of all the things that can create one long-term financial headache, there aren’t any as more common as buying too much property. When you’re looking for a house, it’s really important that you’re properly assessing how much you’re able to afford – and then make sure that you’re sticking to that budget during your search. It’s also worth considering if you genuinely need or want to buy a property. Sometimes it’s a lot simpler just to rent.

Letting Other People Spend Your Money

It’s bad enough to fall into financial problems because of what you’ve done; it’s even worse to have money problems because you’re letting other people spend your money. It’s worthwhile learning how to say no. If not, then you could find that you’re spending all of your hard-earned cash on things like going to international weddings, going to expensive restaurants, and all-around contributing to things that weren’t really your idea. It can be a little difficult to say no sometimes, but it’s not as awkward as you think, and it can have a positive impact on your long-term finances.